January 8 - March 11, 2012
9:45 a.m.
It’s a Wonderful Life:
Has Christianity Failed You?
Alan Shaffer
Gathering Place
"In April of next year, Ravi Zacharias, a world-wide known theologian and heard regularly on KSIV locally has accepted Randy Mayfield's invitation to headline Central Presbyterian's Mission weekend. At Randy's suggestion, IAWL SS class will review his latest book, "Has Christianity Failed You" to give an understanding of who he is and how he deals with the culture today. Teachers include Randy, Alan Shaffer and Kelly Kurth. Come join us in the Gathering Place on Sundays at 9:45 AM beginning in January."
Mad About You:
Prayer—Mystery & Majesty
Eric Schmidt
Fellowship Hall
Let’s get real – prayer can be frustrating and satisfying, boring and exciting, mundane and glorious. Mad About You invites everyone who would like to interactively explore the “Mystery & Majesty” of prayer through teaching, discussing and praying. Whether you’re a prayer novice or a prayer warrior, please join us as we seek to increase our understanding and enhance our experience of prayer.
20s + 30s:
Creation, Rebellion, Redemption, New Creation: Getting the Big Picture
Jay Thomas Hewitt
835 Hanley Duplex
It's easy to know a lot of what's in the Bible without really understanding what the Bible is actually about. Knowing many small bits of scripture is not the same as getting the big picture of God's redemptive plan, and to put succinctly, we can miss the forest for the trees. When this happens we really aren't equipped to make proper sense of the details of scripture, nor are we prepared to thoughtfully consider our lives and the world in which we live. In this class we'll be looking at the big picture of "Creation, Rebellion, Redemption, New Creation" as a God-given template for understanding his word and for thinking well about the daily details of our lives: vocation, relationships, family, the environment, racial tension, economic woes, food, art, business, disappointment, illness, and more. Our format will include teaching as well as plenty of discussion. The class is for the 20s+30s community of Central, but it's open to anyone who is interested. More Details: www.centralpres.com/bigpicture
Gleaners:
Jeremiah
Neal Nielsen
Parlor
Jeremiah died an old man – most likely in Egypt and like Moses, his burial place is a mystery. Jeremiah wrote a long and difficult book, and we haven’t been able to deal with every word. However, we can’t help but glean from his life and ministry some clear and important lessons that apply to all of God’s people today.
1 – In difficult days, we need to hear and heed the Word of God
2 – True patriotism isn’t blind to sin
3 – God’s servants occasionally have their doubts and failings
4 – The important thing isn’t success; it’s faithfulness
5 - The greatest reward of ministry is to become like Jesus Christ
6 – God is King, and the nations of the world are under His sovereign control
It’s a solemn responsibility for a people to claim and know God and profess to do His will. It isn’t enough for a nation to put “In God We Trust” on its currency. It’s righteousness, not religion that exalts a nation.
The same Lord who enabled Jeremiah can enable us. The same world that opposed Jeremiah will oppose us. It’s time for God’s people to be decisive.
Intergenerational Class:
I & II Thessalonians: The Transformation of Societies
Sam Chimento
Classroom B
The coming of Jesus does not just transform our hearts, but our lives as well. The gospel confronts all our thoughts and actions as well. We are called to be shaped into a community that reflects the character of God. Through Paul’s admonishment to the church in Thessalonica we will be confronted with how God’s grace through Jesus Christ continues to confront us as well.
